2012年10月10日星期三

How to Take Creative Couples Portraits

Whatever their skill level, most
photographers do everything they can to avoid cheesy, awkward and generic
couples portraits. But there are a few creative elements to think about while
you’re at the location and also when editing your images that will make them a
bit more special. Now let’s learn from Alice Laidlaw, a young award-winning
photographer.

LOCATIONS

Locations don’t have to be iconic or super
amazing. Integrating texture, form and pattern can lend in telling a story
about the couple, and create a narrative in your images.

Trees
and Foliage:

Framing couples in the branch formations or
space around the tree allows it to be important in the composition without
distracting from the couple. This is particularly effective if you stand far
back from your subjects. Bushy, full foliage with pattern and texture makes a
great background.

Buildings:

Doorways, archways and windows are great to
position couple in and give the composition a dynamic aspect. It can often give
the image balance, and can be applied to both indoor and outdoor sessions.
Carefully positioning yourself and your couple in front of these elements can
produce great graphic compositions.

EDITING

If you struggle to think of creative ways
to present your images to make them stand out, there are a few things to
consider which can make a good image a great image.

Cropping:

If you have a great shot of your couple
with the expressions you want, don’t be afraid to crop in really tight. This is
also an opportunity to create some alternative formats. Cropping to a square
format can also lend to an artistic result.

Combining
images:

Pair appropriate images together side by
side on the canvas. A good option is placing a close-up portrait orientation
next to a wider landscape orientation.

Filters:

A very faint colored filter can change so
much in your image and alters the mood dramatically. Warming the tone can
instantly romanticize a couple’s portrait. To create an even softer effect,
reduce the overall saturation of the original image.

Noise:

Once you’ve done your overall adjustments,
applying some noise over the image is a great way to add subtle texture and
gives your image an “arty” look.

Add
a Border:

Adding a border can make such a different
in the overall look of the final image and raises the bar in presentation. It
certainly makes your image look more like an art photograph, and also acts as a
frame.